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FEATURED COURSE: MARATHON TRAINING MASTERCLASS

WE HELP YOU
RUN FAR.

thomas watson marathon coach

Hi – welcome to Marathon Handbook.

I’m Thomas, and I help people run far every day.

After conquering marathons and ultramarathons, I became a running coach to help others achieve their running goals!

Since starting Marathon Handbook in 2015, I’ve now written articles and designed training plans used by tens of thousands of runners, and developed a few courses along the way.

AS FEATURED IN:

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popular searches: marathon training plans, how to run 100k, half marathon training, best marathon shoes

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LATEST ARTICLES

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running before bed night time running 1

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Why You Should Take a Cold Shower Every Day: Cold Shower Benefits, Explained

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When Was Running Invented?: An In-Depth Look at The History of Running

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CHECK OUT OUR
RUNNING RESOURCES

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HALF MARATHON

How To Train For a Half Marathon
Best Half Marathon Running Shoes
Half Marathon Training Plans
Free 5-day Half Marathon Bootcamp
The
Half Marathon Masterclass

MARATHON TRAINING

How To Train For a Marathon
Best Marathon Running Shoes
Marathon Training Plans
Free 5-day Marathon Training Bootcamp
The Marathon Training Masterclass

ULTRAMARATHON

How To Train For an Ultramarathon
Best GPS Watches for Ultrarunners
Ultramarathon Training Plans

Free 5-day Ultra Runner’s Bootcamp
The Ultra Runner’s Playbook

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OUR MOST POPULAR
FREE TRAINING PLANS:

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HALF MARATHON TRAINING PLANS

Couch To Half Marathon Training Plan
16 Wk Beginner Half Marathon Training Plan
12 Week Rookie Half Marathon Training Plan
10 Week Improve Half Marathon Training Plan
8 Week Improver Half Marathon Training Plan
Sub 2-Hr Half Marathon Training Plan
Sub 1:45 Half Marathon Training Plan
Sub 1:30 Half Marathon Training Plan

View all of our half marathon training plans

MARATHON
TRAINING PLANS

Couch To Marathon Training Plan
6 Month Beginner Marathon Training Plan
20 Week Rookie Marathon Training Plan
16 Week ‘First Time’ Marathon Training Plan
Sub 4 Hour Marathon Training Plan
12 Week Marathon Training Plan
Sub 3 Hour Marathon Training Plan
20 Week Advanced Marathon Training Plan
20 Week Advanced (INTENSE) Marathon Training Plan

View all of our marathon training plans

ULTRAMARATHON TRAINING PLANS

50k Training Plan – Just Finish
50k Training Plan – Improve
50k Training Plan – Compete
50 Mile Training Plan – Just Finish
50 Mile Training Plan – Improve
50 Mile Training Plan – Compete
100k Training Plan – Just Finish
100k Training Plan – Improve
100k Training Plan – Compete
100 Mile Training Plan – Just Finish
100 Mile Training Plan – Improve
100 Mile Training Plan – Compete

View all of our ultramarathon training plans

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HERE’S SOME OF OUR HAPPY RUNNERS!

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Half-marathon during marathon training

Half-marathon during marathon training 1

Hey Thomas!I am following your marathon training program for a 4-hour marathon (20 weeks).At week 13, I ran a half marathon here in Greece as part of my training.My finishing time was 1.54.54 official timing – on course to smash the 4-hr marathon!It’s 7 weeks to my marathon race (Athens Authentic… Marathon), let’s do it – thanks for your support so far!Read more “Half-marathon during marathon training”

Panagiotis Laskaris
Marathon Handbook student

Bhutan Marathon Done!

Bhutan Marathon Done! 2

Hey Thomas,Thanks for your help throughout my marathon training journey!It really helped me prepare and improve my running technique 🙂

Tshering Penden
Bhutan International Marathon

First marathon success!

First marathon success! 3

I’ve just completed my 1st marathon last Sunday, and couldn’t be more proud of myself and also be thankful for the amazing support from Marathon Handbook – which helped me so much!I had a few issues on race day – my GPS stopped in the middle of the course, and we had some unexpected… hills I hadn’t prepared for – but I ran consistently throughout the marathon and luckily didn’t hit the wall!My finishing time was 4hrs 44min and I’ve already promised to myself get a much better one in the next race!Read more “First marathon success!”

Samanta Bernard
Marathon Handbook student

Sub 4-hr marathon success!!!

Sub 4-hr marathon success!!! 4

On signing up to my first marathon I was extremely fortunate to come across Thomas’ 4-hour marathon training schedule, which I tweaked slightly to fit around my travel commitments.What followed was a weekly e-mail packed full of useful tips which prevented me from making any rookie errors along the way.One of the most useful tips… being to run a consistent pace, which is a strategy I stuck to, finishing the marathon in 3:47 (having aimed for 3:50).I would certainly recommend Marathon Handbook to anyone – particularly first-time marathoners!Read more “Sub 4-hr marathon success!!!”

Natasha Floyer
Sydney Marathon

Can’t believe I’m a marathon runner…!

Can't believe I'm a marathon runner...! 5

I prepared to the best of my ability, following the training plan and using the Marathon Handbook diet and gear guides.My race was quite an experience . . . it was already pretty hot, and the weather became very humid.I started with my heart pounding very heavily, gradually it slowed down. Up to… half-way was ok, but after that my head started burning, feeling hot, legs started going . . . but then I reminded myself ok come on . . . you can do it!hahahaahha! hurray yessss I did it, I made it, I made it… I could not express my feeling, how happy I was, I couldn’t believe myself!After this I’m still surprised I can call myself a marathon runner!Read more “Can’t believe I’m a marathon runner…!”

Ratna Gomes
Dooars Run Safari Marathon

Breaking the impossible!

Breaking the impossible! 6

“Your lessons were really helpful . . . they greatly helped me to achieve what I thought was impossible. I cannot describe the euphoria and satisfaction I felt days after running the marathon!”

Kuba Pikus
Marathon Handbook student

Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

Thank you thank you THANK YOU! 7

WOOHOO!!!Just dropping in to say I had my full marathon this weekend!!When we started running in downpouring rain! I crushed my first half and had a little bit of a slow down around mile 17. I cried at mile 20 and got a fantastic second wind at mile 23 and flew across… the finish line.My knees are still feeling a little hot and the outside of my right foot is in rough shape but, I can’t wait for my next race, I loved it so much!Thank you thank you THANK YOU for supporting me throughout this training journey!! Read more “Thank you thank you THANK YOU!”

Hannah Asfeldt

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OUR BOOKS ABOUT
RUNNING FAR:

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4-Hour Marathon
Marathon In 3 Months
StageRaceHandbook
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THE MARATHON HANDBOOK TRAINING COURSES:

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Need to light a fire under your run training?

Try our 7 Day Motivation and Mindset Challenge - designed to give you that boost and build good running habits!

7 Day Motivation

Aim for Half Marathon Success

The Half Marathon Masterclass has over 6 hours of exclusive tutorials and material, it's the complete guide to running 13.1 miles!

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Got a Marathon on the horizon?

Join hundred of other marathon runners with our flagship course, the Marathon Training Masterclass, and nail those 26.2 miles!

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Progressing to the world of ultras?

Sign up for the Ultra Runner's Playbook - and learn the pacing, nutrition, gear, mindset and race day strategies it tales to be an ultrarunner!

Ultra Runner's Playbook

Check out all our Marathon Handbook courses here!

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